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WEAPONS

Stray Swedish weapons show up in Syria

Syrian rebels appear to be using Swedish weapons, visible in a new video that has emerged from the civil war in which an anti-regime fighter cradles a well-known Swedish model of anti-tank rifle.

Published: 7 March 2013 07:05 CET
Stray Swedish weapons show up in Syria

TV4 news found the video in which a rebel fighter emerges with a Carl Gustaf rocket launcher perched on his right shoulder.

The report dubs the weapon a “Swedish export success story”.

It is the second time in the past few months that Swedish weapons have made their way to countries to which Sweden does not export arms.

The last case was unearthed in Burma, to which the European Union forbids all weapons exports.

Pictures taken by a Burmese freelance photographer and published in the Swedish media in December 2012 showed a Carl Gustaf M3 anti-tank rifle and ammunition left behind by Burmese government soldiers. They were recovered by Kachin rebels after recent clashes.

A serial number was traced back to a shipment from Sweden to India, where the government promised to investigate the matter.

As the new example of stray weapons emerged on Wednesday night from Syria, a Swedish military expert confirmed that TV4 had correctly identified the “effective, popular and easy-to-use” Carl Gustaf model.

“Sweden has sold this model to about 40 countries,” said Christoffer Burnett-Cargill at the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (Svenska freds).

“It shows our export checks and balances don’t work. Yet again, Swedish weapons have been diverted.”

TT/The Local/at

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WEAPONS

Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic

Switzerland’s weapons exports have seen a 38 percent increase in 2020, according to official government figures.

Published: 20 October 2020 12:32 CEST
Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic
Swiss weapons exports are on track for their highest year on record. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Switzerland exported CHF690 worth of weapons over the first nine months of 2020. That’s a 38 percent increase on the CHF500 million sold over the corresponding period in 2019. 

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published the figures on Tuesday. 

The biggest customers for Swiss weaponry were Denmark, Indonesia and Germany. 

In total, 76 countries bought Swiss weapons during the period. 

According to current figures, weapons exports are on track to be the highest in Swiss history – beating the record of CHF893 million set in 2011. 

‘Death business is flourishing’ 

The news has been heavily criticised by a number of non-government organisations critical of weapons being sold to countries at war or who may use them against their own citizens. 

The Organisation for Switzerland without an Army (GSOA) and Terre des Hommes have been critical of the figures, particularly as the industry has called for a decrease in regulation in recent years. 

GSOA wrote in a statement “the death business is flourishing”. 

Saudi Arabia – currently involved in a conflict in Yemen – appear on the list, along with Brazil. Weapons opponents are concerned the Swiss exports could be used in the country’s slums, Der Bund reports. 

 

 

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